(Highway 75 Sign - KIWA Staff Photo)Sioux Center, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — Sioux Center’s Highway 75 reconstruction project is nearing completion, with crews targeting a reopening to traffic by the end of Friday, Nov. 20th.
Craig Lauritzen with DGR Engineering provided the update after the final monthly construction meeting on Nov. 10th, saying the timeline depends on the remaining work staying on schedule.
Final Work Before Reopening
All mainline paving has been completed by Godbersen-Smith Construction. Crews are now focused on finishing sidewalks, driveways, landscaping, electrical work, and pavement markings.
City project notes indicate streetlights have been installed, with final electrical connections and testing of the traffic signal at 7th Street North still underway. Contractors are also finishing sidewalks and driveways, landscaping medians and roadside areas, colored concrete work, and installation of synthetic turf in the medians.
Lauritzen said roadway cleaning is expected early the following week, allowing striping, crosswalk painting, and other traffic markings to begin.
Most remaining work after the highway reopens is expected to be minor and located off the main roadway.
Follow-Up Work Expected in Spring
A limited amount of work will carry over into next year, including seeding touch-ups, plant replacements, and pavenment smoothness testing.
If any grinding is required to smooth pavement, that work could result in temporary lane closures next spring.
Four-Year Project Nearing Completion
The nearly $54 million project has rebuilt approximately 2.5 miles of Highway 75 through Sioux Center. Construction began in 2023 and includes four travel lanes, turn lanes, medians, sidewalks, pededstrian crossings, and underground utility upgrades.
This year’s work focused on the stretch from 5th Street North to just south of the 12th Street North intersection near McDonald’s.
Access Challenges During Construction
Looking back, Lauritzen said areas with limited street connectivity created the biggest access challenges for businesses and residents.
He says downtown’s street and alley network helped maintain access to many businesses during construction.
Drivers Should Watch for New Traffic Patterns
Lauritzen said motorists will need to pay attention to new turn lanes and median openings once the highway reopens. Some left turns have been restricted, and certain properties now have right-in, right-out access only. The changes are intended to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians.
Next Highway 75 Project Already Planned
Looking ahead, the Iowa DOT plans another Highway 75 reconstruction project in 2028 and 2029 from 12th Street North to Highway 18.
Current plans call for four travel lanes, landscaped medians, streetlights, a traffic signal at 12th Street North, and a paved pedestrian trail extending north, continuing the design features incorporated into the current project.
